From 0.06% was the monthly increase in prices (inflation) in March 2023 compared to February, which is higher than the one recorded from January to February last year, which was 0.02%, while the price of the basic family basket (CFB) is 766.62 USD, as reported by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC) this Thursday, April 6.

Meanwhile, annual price inflation in March this year reached 2.85% compared to March 2022, which was 2.64%. In February, annual inflation was estimated at 2.90 percent.

Meanwhile, accumulated inflation last March was 0.20%, while in the same month in 2022 it was 1.07%.

Inflation in February was 0.02%, with higher inflation on the coast and lower in the Sierra

According to the INEC report, out of the twelve consumer departments, three influenced the monthly inflation in March: Food and soft drinks with 0.0960%; restaurants and hotels with 0.0196%; and furniture, items for the home and for ordinary home maintenancel 0.0106 %.

The products with the highest frequency of monthly variation in the food and soft drinks section were chicken eggs, one out of ten.

This is because the egg market has been affected by the bird flu outbreak, raising their price by up to 28% in markets and stores across the country. On November 29, 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) issued a state of emergency for animal health that will last until the following May 27; and on March 3 the vaccination procedure started by the Agency for Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Regulation and Control (Agrocalidad), which has managed to vaccinate more than 2 million birds to date.

January began with monthly inflation of 0.12% and a basic family basket of $764.71, reports INEC

As for the product with the highest representation in the monthly variation of restaurants and hotels, out of 10, it is in first place executive lunch.

while detergent for clothes It ranks first as the product with the greatest impact on the monthly variation of furniture, home and regular home maintenance items.

According to INEC, the cost of a basic family basket, which includes 75 products, was $766.62. They show that this value has decreased by -0.07% compared to February.

In addition, the report states that the price of a basket in the Sierra is $778.90 and on the Coast is $754.33.

The city where it is the most expensive, according to INEC, is Cuenca with a value of $800.61.